diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/matches.rs b/clippy_lints/src/matches.rs
index 04b35835c6b8..6372cb86616e 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/matches.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/matches.rs
@@ -1185,6 +1185,14 @@ fn find_matches_sugg(cx: &LateContext<'_>, ex: &Expr<'_>, arms: &[Arm<'_>], expr
             } else {
                 pat
             };
+
+            // strip potential borrows (#6503), but only if the type is a reference
+            let mut ex_new = ex;
+            if let ExprKind::AddrOf(BorrowKind::Ref, .., ex_inner) = ex.kind {
+                if let ty::Ref(..) = cx.typeck_results().expr_ty(&ex_inner).kind() {
+                    ex_new = ex_inner;
+                }
+            };
             span_lint_and_sugg(
                 cx,
                 MATCH_LIKE_MATCHES_MACRO,
@@ -1194,7 +1202,7 @@ fn find_matches_sugg(cx: &LateContext<'_>, ex: &Expr<'_>, arms: &[Arm<'_>], expr
                 format!(
                     "{}matches!({}, {})",
                     if b0 { "" } else { "!" },
-                    snippet_with_applicability(cx, ex.span, "..", &mut applicability),
+                    snippet_with_applicability(cx, ex_new.span, "..", &mut applicability),
                     pat_and_guard,
                 ),
                 applicability,
diff --git a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.fixed b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.fixed
index 84981a525973..dd97ad0150fd 100644
--- a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.fixed
+++ b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.fixed
@@ -99,4 +99,32 @@ fn main() {
             _ => false,
         };
     }
+
+    {
+        // should print "z" in suggestion (#6503)
+        let z = &Some(3);
+        let _z = matches!(z, Some(3));
+    }
+
+    {
+        // this could also print "z" in suggestion..?
+        let z = Some(3);
+        let _z = matches!(&z, Some(3));
+    }
+
+    {
+        enum AnEnum {
+            X,
+            Y,
+        }
+
+        fn foo(_x: AnEnum) {}
+
+        fn main() {
+            let z = AnEnum::X;
+            // we can't remove the reference here!
+            let _ = matches!(&z, AnEnum::X);
+            foo(z);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs
index 94c7c3cadacf..d9eb7f54c652 100644
--- a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs
@@ -119,4 +119,41 @@ fn main() {
             _ => false,
         };
     }
+
+    {
+        // should print "z" in suggestion (#6503)
+        let z = &Some(3);
+        let _z = match &z {
+            Some(3) => true,
+            _ => false,
+        };
+    }
+
+    {
+        // this could also print "z" in suggestion..?
+        let z = Some(3);
+        let _z = match &z {
+            Some(3) => true,
+            _ => false,
+        };
+    }
+
+    {
+        enum AnEnum {
+            X,
+            Y,
+        }
+
+        fn foo(_x: AnEnum) {}
+
+        fn main() {
+            let z = AnEnum::X;
+            // we can't remove the reference here!
+            let _ = match &z {
+                AnEnum::X => true,
+                _ => false,
+            };
+            foo(z);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.stderr b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.stderr
index c52e41c78894..550318d6225f 100644
--- a/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/match_expr_like_matches_macro.stderr
@@ -70,5 +70,35 @@ LL | |             _ => true,
 LL | |         };
    | |_________^ help: try this: `!matches!(x, E::B(_) | E::C)`
 
-error: aborting due to 7 previous errors
+error: match expression looks like `matches!` macro
+  --> $DIR/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs:126:18
+   |
+LL |           let _z = match &z {
+   |  __________________^
+LL | |             Some(3) => true,
+LL | |             _ => false,
+LL | |         };
+   | |_________^ help: try this: `matches!(z, Some(3))`
+
+error: match expression looks like `matches!` macro
+  --> $DIR/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs:135:18
+   |
+LL |           let _z = match &z {
+   |  __________________^
+LL | |             Some(3) => true,
+LL | |             _ => false,
+LL | |         };
+   | |_________^ help: try this: `matches!(&z, Some(3))`
+
+error: match expression looks like `matches!` macro
+  --> $DIR/match_expr_like_matches_macro.rs:152:21
+   |
+LL |               let _ = match &z {
+   |  _____________________^
+LL | |                 AnEnum::X => true,
+LL | |                 _ => false,
+LL | |             };
+   | |_____________^ help: try this: `matches!(&z, AnEnum::X)`
+
+error: aborting due to 10 previous errors